6/8/2009 - Largest Hankook Tire Retailer in the Northeast Opens New Location

06/08/2009

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Largest Hankook Tire Retailer in the Northeast Opens New Location

Second Store for Family-Owned B-C Tire Service Inc.

WAYNE, N.J. June 8, 2009 - B-C Tire Service, the largest independent Hankook Tire dealer in the New York metro area celebrated the grand opening of its second retail store in Edison, N.J., over the weekend with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Greg Pae, President and COO of Hankook Tire America Corp. and Edison Mayor Jun Choi.

With one facility already located in Piscataway, N.J., the new store located at 36 Lincoln Highway in Edison, N.J., will provide additional job opportunities for Middlesex County residents on top of the 40 employees already employed by B-C Tire.

“We’re thrilled to be able to open another retail operation,” said Joel Caplan, president, B-C Tire Service. “In 2001, we added Hankook products to our arsenal of tire offerings and a few short years later, thanks to our loyal customers, hard working employees and a quality tire, we found ourselves to be the largest independent Hankook dealer in the Northeast.”

Hankook continues to support dealer activities with its mobile marketing rig which provides on-site marketing support to help increase brand awareness and provide sales assistance to dealers. Hankook also recently launched its Empowerment Program, an online dealer training program aimed at educating dealers about the Hankook brand.

“Hankook Tire America is committed to supporting our retailers at every level, and it was an honor to be part of an event where one of our largest independent retailers celebrated such a success,” said Bill Bainbridge, Hankook Tire America Corp. director of brand communications. “B-C Tire has demonstrated that by listening to your customers, providing a high level of customer service and cutting-edge products, you can excel.”

Family owned and operated since 1968, B-C Tire has been New Jerseys source for quality automotive service with ASE-certified technicians providing oil changes, diagnostics, tires, and more. Caplan and Frank Brearley Jr. purchased B-C Tire from Caplan’s mother, Elaine Caplan in 2000 after the death of Caplan’s father, Brian Caplan in 1999. Brearley’s son and third generation employee Frank Brearley III, now manages the wholesale division with plans to take over his father’s position in the future.

“B-C Tire began in 1968 when my father and Frank Brearley Sr. rented a small abandoned store front on the corner of Duclos Lane and Lincoln Highway in Edison,” Caplan said. “Now it’s 40 years later and we’re excited and proud to open a second location in Edison, the town where it all started.”

In addition to its two retail outlets, B-C Tire also operates an extensive wholesale distribution operation including an 18,000 square foot tire warehouse stocking a wide range of sizes of multiple tire brands, most notably Hankook.

“Hankook is our number one brand because of its product quality,” Caplan said. “Our customers know they can count on us for service and on the Hankook tires we sell for exceptional value.”

About B-C Tire Service
Since 1968 B-C Tire Service has been North Jersey`s source for quality automotive service. As a family owned and operated business, they provide personalized service with a professional quality. With a 10-bay shop B-C Tire Service is able to serve all automotive needs: oil changes, diagnostics, tires, and more. In addition to two retail outlets, they also have an 18,000 square foot tire warehouse and stock most tire sizes from many brands, including Hankook, Michelin and Goodyear.

About Hankook Tire America Corp.
Headquartered in Wayne, N.J., Hankook Tire America Corp. is a technology-focused, market-driven company that markets and distributes a complete line of high performance and ultra-high performance passenger tires, light truck, SUV tires, as well as medium truck and bus tires to more than 400 independent dealers through 3000+ retail sales locations in the United States and Canada.